The Aftermath of First Love - Chapter 5

“Cheryl, at the upcoming ball, I’ll escort you, but there will be some talks I must attend to, and you may have some time alone…”

“It’s fine, my dear. I’m sure my friends will be there, and I’ll take the opportunity to strengthen our bonds.”

“Ah, I’m glad to hear that. Some diplomatic members from our neighboring country are arriving, and there are a few matters we need to discuss.”

“Please, don’t worry about it,” Cheriliana replied lightly, a smile in her voice as she spoke to her husband, Darnell.

It had been three years since Cheriliana and Darnell’s marriage. They had a daughter, Dalianna, who had inherited Darnell’s hair and eye color but looked exactly like Cheriliana in her features. Dalianna was only about six months old.

The ball mentioned earlier was to be the first since the birth of Dalianna. Cheriliana ’s heart was filled with anticipation, wondering if she would catch a glimpse of him.

It had been two years since they last saw each other. Had he married by now? If he had, Darnell would likely bring it up in conversation, wouldn’t he?

“Do I still think of him? Does he still think of me?” Cheriliana wondered. Countless questions without answers filled her thoughts, but she shook her head and gave instructions to her maid regarding her dress and accessories.

“If anything happens to Dalianna, please contact me immediately.”

Darnell and Cheriliana entrusted their butler and nursemaid with the care of their daughter, then rode the carriage toward the royal palace for the ball.

Recently, there had been talks of a marriage agreement between their kingdom, Liparital, and the neighboring country of Admayard. Despite their differing climates, which resulted in different harvest times, the two countries had been discussing how they might complement each other’s agricultural cycles through trade. The marriage contract was meant to formalize this agreement.

Darnell, as an assistant to the prime minister, would be involved in the behind-the-scenes talks during the ball.

Cheriliana was a little anxious, wondering if she would be able to meet her friends from school. two years had passed since graduation, and since then, she had taken a break from socializing due to pregnancy, so perhaps her friends would have done the same.

She had already confirmed by letter that her best friend, Lady Skylarna Larkins, would be attending, though Skylarna had mentioned her health wasn’t quite good.

As the carriage arrived, the announcement of the arrival of the Nelson family echoed throughout the palace.

Although Darnell was the future duke, his father still ruled the family’s lands, so Darnell held the title of count in the interim. Most of the courtiers at the palace were from noble families, particularly those who were second or third sons unable to inherit titles, or outstanding scholars from commoner backgrounds.

Darnell helped Cheriliana out of the carriage, and she headed to the waiting room, where she asked her maids to touch up her hair and makeup in preparation for the ball.

“I wonder what Dalianna is doing right now?” Cheriliana mused aloud, thinking of their daughter.

Darnell didn’t seem to notice her speaking. He was lost in thought, glancing down at a message card handed to him by a servant.

When Cheriliana approached him, he quickly stuffed the card into his pocket, but in doing so, the sweet scent from the card lingered in the air.

Cheriliana pretended not to notice. Though it was the first time she had smelled such a scent on him, it wasn’t the first time she had noticed him wearing a fragrance that wasn’t hers.

The first time she noticed it, when they were still at school, it had shocked her. Looking back, though, it seemed like a repeat of what had happened in their youth. The difference now was that the rules around women’s advances had loosened since the days when virginity was held in high regard.

In their marriage contract, Cheriliana had insisted on a clause that stated only the children born from their union would inherit the Nelson dukedom. The agreement had been formally added to the marriage contract, recognized by the heads of the Nelson and Murdock families and submitted to the royal family.

Darnell probably hadn’t even realized the subtlety of this stipulation, which had been part of their youthful recklessness during their school years.

Though the Duke of Nelson had looked displeased when it was agreed upon, Cheriliana found herself quietly laughing, remembering her father-in-law’s grumpy expression at the time.

“What’s got you in such a good mood?” Darnell asked, trying to divert attention from his flustered behavior.

“I’m just excited about tonight’s ball. It’s been so long since I’ve seen Skye.”

Cheriliana answered with her usual cheerful smile.
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Adrian, who graduated from school, initially worked in the Ministry of Agriculture, focusing on crop production. Over time, he gradually climbed the ranks and was eventually assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he dealt with negotiations with the neighboring country of Admayard.

Tonight’s ball was the culmination of his efforts. Adrian, dressed in his evening wear, took a moment to adjust his appearance. He had seen her name on the guest list.

He closed his eyes and remembered that dance they had shared. A faint fruity scent filled his mind, and the waltz melody echoed in his ears.

“I’m obsessively fixated,” Adrian laughed at himself.

Since graduation, he had seen her at the royal balls held twice a year. The last two years, however, she had been absent due to happy events, but tonight…

Adrian stood before the mirror one last time, inspecting his attire before stepping out of the Ministry’s waiting room to attend the ball.